Overview

A restatement of the correspondence theory of truth together with a defense against objections and alternative theories, including deflationism, minimalism, and pluralism. In Veritas, Gerald Vision defends the correspondence theory of truth—the theory that truth has a direct relationship to reality—against recent attacks, and critically examines its most influential alternatives. The correspondence theory, if successful, explains one way in which we are cognitively connected to the world; thus, it is claimed, truth—while relevant to semantics, epistemology, and other studies—also has significant metaphysical consequences. Although the correspondence theory is widely held today, Vision points to an emerging orthodoxy in philosophy that claims that truth as such carries no significant weight in philosophical explanations. He devotes much of the book to a criticism of that outlook and to a less vulnerable formulation of the correspondence theory. Vision defends the correspondence theory by both presenting evidence for correspondence and examining the claims made by such alternative theories as deflationism, minimalism, and pluralism. The techniques of the argument are thoroughly analytic, but the problem confronted is broadly humanistic. The question examined—how we, as thinking beings, are connected to and manage to cope in a world that was not designed for our comfort or convenience—is more likely to be raised by continentalists, but is approached here with the tools of clarity and precision more highly prized in analytic philosophy. The book seeks to avoid both the obscurantism that infects much continental thought and the overly technical concerns and methodology that limit the interest of much work in analytic philosophy. It thus provides a rigorous but largely nontechnical treatment of the topic that will be of interest not only to readers familiar with philosophy but also to those with a background in literary theory and linguistics.

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9780262513494

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Reviews

Veritas is a rare sort of book that leaves one feeling as if they have spent a long afternoon or evening deep in conversation with a thoughtful colleague or friend. It is a fine, scholarly and thought-provoking book of tremendous value for those who are already party to debates over truth. Newcomers with little background will also find it accessible due to the excellent survey of major issues and positions in the first chapter and to its clear and readable prose. -- Robert Barnard, Polish Journal of Philosophy In this book, Gerald Vision offers the best defense of true-grit correspondence theories available. He argues that an Austian version of the correspondence theory is superior to what he sees as its main rivals--deflationism and pluralism. Veritas will be of significant interest to those philosophers working on truth, realism, and philosophy of language generally. --Michael P. Lynch, Philosophy Department, University of Connecticut Gerald Vision's Veritas is a vigorous and dialectically powerful defense of the correspondence theory of truth. It features a thorough, penetrating, and to my mind persuasive critique of the currently popular deflationalist view championed by Horwich, Soames, Field, and others. This book is essential reading for those interested in current philosophical debates about truth. Vision lays down the gauntlet against deflationism. --Terry Horgan, University of Arizona

Author Information

Gerald Vision is Professor of Philosophy at Temple University. He is the author of Veritas: The Correspondence Theory and Its Critics (MIT Press, 2004) and other books.

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